MNP Week 24: Saucy Meatballs Topple Desserts

In a devastating performance, Saucy Meatballs dominated the potluck competition Monday Night. 

In the season's 24th Monday Night Potluck, Sarah and Jack's Saucy Balls 49 points easily outpaced the excellent field, exceeding the point total of the second and third place finishers combined. 

The dominant dish clearly reflected a team effort. Jack credited Sarah with the majority of the effort, but Sarah reflected that credit back on Jack for "pattying the balls" and "stuffing the cheese."

Saucy Meatballs may have stolen the spotlight, but there was still plenty of room on potluckers plates and palates for other dishes to shine. Desserts followed up on the delightful Meatballs, taking the second and third place spots on the evening. Jess and Richard's Aunt Patti's Bread Pudding narrowly took second place, its 24 points edging out Team Sully's Cran Apple Crunch's 23. 

Thanks again to all who made delicious grub for the potluck! As always, here are the chefs and their dishes:

Angie Dorton - PB Banana Cups
Dave Sutton - Sweet & Sassy Pork Sliders
Brenda Kuznik - Olive Waf & Brie Cheeses
Brenda Kuznik - Skinny Pop Popcorn
Gina Parthum - Pasta w/ Pancetta Cauliflower, Broccoli & Olives
Sarah and Jack - Saucy Meatballs (1st Place)
Team Sully - Cran-Apple Crunch (3rd Place)
Kelly Schaller - Pork Green Chili
Jess and Richard - Aunt Patti's Bread Pudding (2nd Place)
T Jay - Pork on Pork on Pork
Jared - Bourbon Pecan Pie
Chris Hershey - Sloppy Joes

MNP Week 23: Chili Blanco Takes First By A Nose

Despite a near potluck disaster that saw the tragic loss of a Crock Pot and some delightful pulled pork (prepped by Mike Cardone), Broken Compass potluckers overcame adversity to hold another delightful Monday Night Potluck.

Due to the last minute cleaning and general hectic nature of the potluck, your trusty MNP blogger was unable to sample any of the yummy treats provided by our excellent chefs. Tom Greiner's Chili Blanco took first place by a narrow five points over Heidi Ashton's Apple Crisp, while Matt Wardlaw's Smoked Salmon, Gouda and Fig Crackers reached the podium as well. The full list of dishes and cooks is below. We'll see you tonight at 7 for another potluck! (this time, no broken Crock Pots)

Bo Rocco - Trout Pate
Tom Greiner - Chili Blanco (1st Place)
Heidi Ashton - Apple Crisp (2nd Place)
Gyde (spelling? who knows) Lund - Chicken Pesto Pasta
Samantha and Warren and Chelsea - Rosemary Garlic Taters
Ashley B - Chocolate Raspberry Cupcakes
Katie Schroeder - S'mores Bars
Maria Galgas - Zucchini and Onion Pie
Kirk P - Chicken and Potatoes
Christine Broyhill - Cajun Jambalaya
Matt Wardlaw - Smoked Salmon/Gouda/Fig Crackers (3rd Place)
Andrea Jordan - Pulled Pork & Citrus Slaw
Justin - Brussel Sprouts
Rachel D - Chicken Fajitas w/ Green Chilis
Team Team - Beer Cheese Soup

MNP Week 22: St. Patrick's Day Deliciousness

Lana McLaughlin - Irrational Califlower Cheese Pie
Susie Nathnagel - Irish Green Salad w/ Goat Cheese
Amanda and Eleanor - Margarita Cheesecakes
Rick - Bangers and Colcannon w/ Guinness Gravy (1st Place)
Jake and Chris - Double Baca Deviled Eggs
Danny Bumm - Green Irish Dip
Blair - Irish Soda Bread
Katie Schroeder - Pi Day Key Lime Pie
Tom Greiner - Guinness Onion Rings & Gravy
Hailey Michelsen - Guinness and Bailey's and Whiskey Chocolate Cupcakes (2nd Place)
Mike Spies - Ham and Bean Soup
Hanna Holtzbog - Grilled Blackened Salmon (3rd Place)
Kate - Quinoa Vegetable Chicken Chili
Jenna Van Bell - Jenna's Birthday Cake
Dylan Gunther - Mac N Cheese

The MNP champs

MNP Week 16: Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes A Delight, Champion

In a shock to absolutely nobody, Maria Galgas's Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes won a commanding victory at last week's Monday Night Potluck. 

An MNP juggernaut, Maria's desserts are renowned across the potluck land for their deliciousness, so when competitors saw her name on the same line as "Cheesecakes" and "Peanut Butter" and "Mini", it was nearly a foregone conclusion. 

With second place up for grabs, however, the remaining dishes held an admirable battle. Sara's Baby Pot Pies clawed their way to the podium, outlasting Mama's Pot Pie in a hearty, chicken-centric pot pie battle, claiming second place with 20 points. Kim and Jen's Salad de Potluck was a late arrival, meanwhile, but managed to secure enough votes for third place while presenting eaters with a different tasty surprise in every bite (seriously, I still have no idea what combinations of foods and flavors were in that salad). 

Delicious as always, and make sure to join us tonight (Feb. 8) for our Cajun themed potluck and to meet our new head brewer, Jason Wiedmaier! (http://www.brokencompassbrewing.com/blog/2016/2/5/meet-our-new-brewer-on-monday-night-potluck)

Loren - Chillin Chilladas
Cliff - Mama Pot Pie
Sara - Baby Pot Pies (2nd Place)
Sarah/Jack - Lil' Smokeys
Samantha and Warren - Mom's Coleslaw
Maria - Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes (1st Place)
Tarek/DBallz - Ballz's Beans
Kim and Jen - Salad de Potluck (3rd Place)

Meet Our New Brewer On Monday Night Potluck

As of this past Monday, we're thrilled to welcome Jason Wiedmaier to the Broken Compass family. 

Jason will be working with Ford (also a Jason, we now have two Jasons! Fromhere on out assume we'll refer to Ford as Ford and Wiedmaier as Jason) as head brewer as we continue to grow and expand the Broken Compass brand and collection of brews. It's a perfect fit for the brewery, as Ford and Jason already have experience working together from Ford's time assisting at Lone Tree Brewing in the Denver area (not to mention the balance Wiedmaier's well-groomed beard provides to Ford's gargantuan equivalent).

We'll be having a meet and greet with our awesome new head brewer this coming Monday during our weekly Monday Night Potluck (which is also Cajun themed, so whip up your best Louisiana based dishes!).

Jason opened Lone Tree in 2011 and served as head brewer and co-owner there for five years, during which time Lone Tree developed a passionate following in the south Denver area. Jason's passion for the craft has always been apparent in his homebrewing and work at Lone Tree, and his excitement only continues to grow as he works his way into Broken Compass's day to day operations.

"I would say first and foremost is the vibe," Jason said of his opportunity to work with Broken Compass. "The overall vibe, the employees the customers, the energy it's got. And then the creativity comes with that."

With a family background full of bakers and chefs, Jason brings a unique perspective to brewing. He's most excited about bringing a series of lagers (for which Lone Tree won a silver medal at the 2015 Great American Beer Fest) to the Compass, including an Oktoberfest and an India Pale Lager, but also loves taking baked recipes and turning them into ingredients in beer.

"That's where the Banana Cream Pie Belgian Tripel idea comes from. I've got maybe 30 of those," he said.

Jason's passion for teaching (he spent 12 years in Aurora public schools) is another major asset to Broken Compass, as he will eventually head up the soon to begin homebrewer's club. 

The team at Broken Compass is beyond ecstatic (seriously, see the picture above) to have Jason working with us and we hope you'll take the chance to come meet the newest member of our team this Monday night!

MNP Week 15: Asian Cabbage Salad Brings Home Title For Healthiness

As many potluckers nursed Broncos hangovers, a few elite chefs plied their trade yet again at Broken Compass for Monday Night Potluck. 

And in a result that was eerily similar to the Broncos AFC Championship victory, Asian Cabbage Salad narrowly clipped Full Loaded Baked Potato Soup 20-18 to secure Tommy Peters's first MNP victory. It was unclear which competition was more exciting (we're trying to be impartial. Obviously potluck was way more exciting than a damn football game).

It was a tight match from the kickoff, as both Cabbage Salad and Potato Soup showed the qualities that got them to this elite level of cooking and eating. Potato Soup edged ahead to an early lead, receiving crucial contributions from bacon, cheese and scallions off the bench. Not to be outdone however, Cabbage Salad gamely hung with the soupy juggernaut and finally inched into the lead late in the fourth quarter with help from a touch of soy sauce and a missed extra point, staking claim to what is likely the healthiest victory in the history of MNP.

Three dishes finished in a tie for third, as Cinnamon Apple Cookies!, Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Five Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip and Feta, Red Onion, Hot Pepper Jam Sliders w/ Pepper Jack pleased palates and stomachs alike.

Thanks to all who brought food and good fun! As always, here's the chefs and their creations:

Lauren P. - Cinnamon Apple Cookies! (T-3rd Place)
Sarah S. - Fully Loaded Baked Potato Soup (2nd Place)
Seth Cohen - Broken Compass Chili Pepper Pale Ale Five Cheese Spinach Artichoke Dip (T-3rd Place)
Jack Yeaton - Feta, Red Onion, Hot Pepper Jam Sliders w/ Pepper Jack (T-3rd Place)
Tommy Peters - Asian Cabbage Salad (1st Place)
Krisen Kellogg - Kale Parmesan Salad

MNP Week 13: Bean Dip Victory For Mothers, Potluckers Everywhere

With Ullr Fest on the horizon and snow in the forecast, it was time to take it back to the hearty basics.

A throwback to the good old days of huddling around the hearth, Mom's Bean Dip warmed stomachs, hearts and senses of nostalgia Monday night, taking home first place in the second Monday Night Potluck of the new year in a landslide victory. 

It was the first MNP win for Stu and Sadie, and also for their absent mother, who's Bean Dip used an excellent combination of refried beans, Velveeta cheese, ground beef and other assorted spices and meats to crush the competition. 

"It was like the bean dip my family makes on Thanksgiving, only made with care, and love, and actually decent ingredients," one potlucker said wistfully. 

To bring a little bit of health conscientiousness to the potluck, Claudia Richardson's Roasted Squash edged out a narrow second place victory over Warren and Samantha's S'more Casserole, which took that health conscientiousness and deliciously smashed it bits for another podium finish.

As always, thanks to everyone who brought food for the potluck. We're doing it again tonight on MLK Day, hope to see you there! Here are the chefs and they're dishes:

Megan Drew - Shoo Fly Pie
Claudia Richardson - Roasted Squash (2nd Place)
Warren and Samantha - S'more Casserole (3rd Place)
Andrea Reilly - Carrot Soup
Kathleen and Steve - Avo Dip
Stu and Sadie - Mom's Bean Dip (1st Place)
Shelby and Maggie - Under The Breckenridge Sun Soup
Phil Lindeman - Chili
Joaquim - Cheesy Acorns

MNP Week 11: Desserts Overcome The Force

On the last Monday Night Potluck of 2015, delicious desserts, appetizers and Star Wars themed dishes waged food warfare on an epic potluck evening. 

Welcome To The Dark Side (Coconut Porter floats), Obi Wan Kabobs and May The Cheese Be With You brought the Force to MNP in honor of the Star Wars release.

But nothing, not even the Force, could stop Megan Drew's Panna Cotta Tart from crushing the competition. The delicious, creamy Tart was bolstered by the presence of Roasted Grapes, which pushed it over the top and helped it take home the first place prize. 

Persimmon Pudding With Brandy, Walnuts And Raisins (PPWBWAR) added another podium finish to Maria Galgas's fine potluck resume, as this scrumptious pudding chalked up another victory for dessert lovers, while Jessica's Artichoke Dip took home the third place award.

Thanks to everyone who brought food to the potluck, we hope to see you tonight (Jan. 4) at our next MNP!

As always, the chefs and their dishes:

Danielle - Salad
Auri, Bobby, Chu, E - Gingerbread Cookies
Loren - Creamy Spaghetti
Jessica - Artichoke Dip (3rd Place)
Tom - Salmon Vindaloo
Warren and Samantha - Obi Wan Kabobs
Brian Munger - May The Cheese Be With You
Nick Shaffer - Welcome To The Dark Side (Coconut Porter Floats)
Matt - Raw, Not Vegan
Chloe - Green Bean Casserole
Greg - Chili
Megan Drew - Panna Cotta Tart With Roasted Grapes (1st Place)
Dara Lor - Peanut Noodles
Maria Galgas - Persimmon Pudding With Brandy, Walnuts And Raisins (2nd Place)
Russ Schissler - Chunky Chili
Shawn Shields - Taco Salad
Vote Vegan - Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Ho Chefs - Sensations